Closure fastening means



April 22, 1941.

F, A. HOLBY 2,239,327 CLOSURE FASTENING MEANS Filed July 5, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 1 awe/Fm AVrQnX A- HOZ/Z.

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Patented Apr. 22, 1941 2,239,327 CLOSURE FASTENING MEANS Application July 3,

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to a closure fastening means and in particular to such. means wherein a trigger is provided for holding a bolt in withdrawn position when the same is disengaged from its keeper. An object of the invention is to insure cat the bolt. cannot be disengaged from the keeper until it is engaged, or is in position to be engaged, by the trigger. Another object is to provide improved operating mechanism for the bolt. While the invention is of general application, I have shown it in the accompanying drawings as applied to a manhole cover for tank trucks and the invention will be described with reference to these drawings.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is a plan view of cover equipped with the devices of the invention.

Figure 2 is a partial elevation of the mechanism of Figure 1 as seen from the right of that figure.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the mechanism of Figure 1 looking from the bottom of that figure.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figures 5 to 9 are enlarged partial sections on line 4-4 of "Figure 1 and show the latching mechanism' in different relations.

Figure 10 is also a partial section considerably enlarged on line 4-4 of Figure 1 and shows the latching mechanism in a further relation.

Figure 11 is a section in reduced scale on line H-'H of Figure 12.

Figure 12 is a section on we 13, and

Figure 13 is a section on line 13-4 3 of Figure 12.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral designates a manhole ring comprising a lower part 21 adapted tobe positioned in atop opening in a truck tank shell 22 and welded in position as indicated in Figures 2 to 4. The ring comprises a top portion fines a circular manhole opening 24, At diametrically opposite'points relative to the opening 24, thetop portion 23 1s provided with boss 25 and an upright keeper 26 having an angular head portion 21 projecting toward boss 25.

An arm 28, which is in the form of an inverted channel, has ears pivoted to boss 25 by means of Near the bolt arm 23 is provided an adjustable abutment 3% which is adapted to rest ona lug 3! on ring portion upright position. The arm 28 carries on its underside a cover 32 in the manner particularly shown in Figure 4 and at its free end carries the latching mechanism which will now be described.

a manhole ring and present line l2-i2 of Fi Reference numeral ttdesignates a-twin armed 23 secured to portion 2| which del 23 when the arm is in Frank A. lllolby, Riverside, Conn, assignor to The William F. Kenny Company,

corporation of New York 1940, Serial No. 343,903

New York, N. Y., a

bell crank lever having the long arms 35 and 3E and the short arms 36 and 3?. At the points of junction of the long and short arms, there are provided boss portions 38 and fifiwhich are pierced to receive a pivot pin it which 1s secured between the lower portions of the side walls of arm 23. At their free ends the arms 34 and 3 5 merge with a hand grip ll. The short arms 36 and 37 at their free ends support rollers 52 and 4-3 on an axis parallel with the axis of the pin d9. Arms .34 and 35 carry similar rollers M and on an axis which is parallel to the axis of pin ll] and is spaced the same distance from the latter as the axis of rollers 52 and Q3. Rollers 42 and M are in a common plane and rollers 43 and 45 are in a common plane.

Arm 28 has an end wall provided with vertical slots 34 and 35 closed at their upper ends and downwardly terminating at a horizontal slot ll. The hand grip is insertable, upon assembly, through slot M. Arms 3% and 25 will then be in position, as shown, to swing up and down in slots 34" and 3'5 respectively.

Pivoted in arm 28 on a'pin t5 parallel to pin ii) and above the latter is a yoke ll! which includes parallel arms 48 and all which are pierced at their free extremities to receive a' pin 52 which is parallel to pin it. Strung on pin 5%] inside arms 48 and it is a pair of members 5| and 52 which are pinned against arms is and all, respectively, by pins 5i and 52' so as to be held against rotation on pin 5%). Members 5| and 52 have upwardly extending nose portions 53 and 5 t.v Strung on pin 55) between members 5| and 5?. is a pair of rollers 55 and 55, these rollers, together with the pin '59, constituting a bolt for cooperation with the keeper head 2l To the outside of arms 43 and 49 pin 50 carries rollers 48' and i9, Figures 11 and 12. These rollers are respectively in the planes of and lie between rollers l2, i l and d3, 45 in the manner particularly shown in Figure 11. The yoke l! is biased toward the keeper by torsion springs, as shown.

A plate 51 which constitutes a safety catch is strung on pin it centrally oi the latter and is positioned thereon by spacing collars 58 and 59, Figure 12. Plate 5'5 extends upwardly freely between rollers 55 and 56 and has an extension iii] which lies behind the pin 58. The plate has a point it which projects toward the keeper and is biased toward the keeper by torsion springs and also by a weighted portion 62.

Mounted on a pin 62 parallel to pin 16 is a trigger (33 whose free end in the closed position of the cover overlies the keeper head 21. The free end of the trigger is provided with a pair of depending lugs 64 and 65 which are respectively in the planes of the nose portions 53 and 56 for cooperation with the latter in the manner which will be later described. The trigger is biased downwardly by torsion springs, as shown.

In Figure 4 the bolt is shown engaged beneath the keeper head 21, securely seating the cover 32. The free end of the trigger 63 rests on the top of the keeper head and the lugs 64 and 65 are free of the nose portions 53 and 54. The free end of the safety catch 51 underlies the keeper head. If the hand grip 4| is pulled upwardly the bell crank lever 33 is swung about its axis causing rollers 44 and 45 to engage rollers 48' and 49, Figures 11 and 12 so that yoke 47 is swung away from the keeper. Pin 50, engaging the extension 60 of the safety catch 51 swings the catch in a counter-clockwise direction, i. e., in a direction also away from the keeper. In Figure 5 the described movements have progressed to a point where the bolt is clear of the keeper head but the point 6| of the safety catch is still beneath the head. The lugs of the trigger are riding on the nose portions 53 and 54. In Figure 6 the trigger lugs have just reached a position wherein they can drop down and engage the nose portions 53 and 54 so as to hold the bolt in withdrawn position. However, the point (SI of the safety catch is still beneath the keeper head to a substantial extent so that the bolt must be moved in the unlatching direction still further, this to assure that even if the parts are worn the trigger will engage the bolt before the latter can be moved to a position above the keeper head. In Figure 7 the trigger is in engaging relation to the bolt and point 6| of the safety catch is just about to pass from beneath the keeper head. In Figure 8 the safety catch is clear of the head and the lever arms 34 and 35 are in abutment with the upper ends of the slots 34' and 35' so that continued upward pull on the lever will cause arm 28 and therewith the cover 32 to be swung to an upright position in which they are retainable by the stop 30. Adjustment of the stop 30 is such that a slight movement of the truck will cause the arm and cover to overbalance and swing toward closed position.

In Figure 9 the cover is moving to closed position and rollers 48' and 49' are now engaged by rollers 42 and 43 on the short arms 36 and 31 of the lever 33. This, of course, has not eifected any return movement of the belt which is still held by the trigger. end of the trigger has just come into engagement with the top of keeper head 21. Consequently as the downward movement of the arm 28 continues the nose portions 53 and 54 on yoke 51 will pass below the trigger lugs to release the yoke so that the bolt is enabled to move under the keeper head to latching position. In the po sition of parts shown in Figure 9 the point 6| of the safety catch has already swung under the keeper head, having been cammed somewhat in a counter-clockwise direction due to engagement of point 6| with the face of the keeper head in passing the latter.

In Figure the trigger is just releasing the bolt which will now swing under the keeper head due to the action of the yoke spring and also due to the weight of the lever 33 and any pressure which may be manually exerted thereon. As the bolt moves under the keeper head it goes some- As shown in Figure 9 the free what into an upward arc and since the lower surface of the keeper head is somewhat downwardly inclined away from the belt a powerful compressive action on the cover gasket is secured. The parts have now returned to the position of Figure 4.

From the above it will be evident that the bolt is mounted for very favorable latching action and that it cannot move to a position above the head of the keeper until its engagement by the trigger is assured. Since there is no danger of substantial opening movement until the trigger has engaged the bolt, it is impossible for the bolt to descend on top of the keeper head. Thus damage or injury of parts due to this cause is prevented and effective latching is secured.

While I have shown the invention in preferred embodiment it will be understood that variations in form and arrangement of parts are possible without departure from the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Latch mechanism for a swingable member and the latter is disengaged from the keeper, and a safety catch cooperable with said keeper for prebring the bolt above the keeper head until said trigger is in holding relation to said bolt.

2. Latch mechanism for keeper as the result of the movement of said lever as said lever is moved to disengage said bolt.

4. Latch mechanism for and said lever, a trigger for holding said bolt in withdrawn position when the latter is disengaged from the keeper, and a safety catch cooperable with said keeper for preventing swinging of said member to an extent to bring the bolt above the keeper head until said trigger is in holding relation to said bolt.

5. Latch mechanism for a swingable member and cooperable with a fixed keeper adjacent the free end of said member, said latch mechanism comprising a lever pivoted on the free end of said member, a bolt on said member engageable in locking relation under the head of said keeper and disengageable by said lever, a trigger for holding said bolt in withdrawn position when the latter is disengaged from the keeper, and a safety catch pivoted on the lever axis and underlying the keeper head when the bolt is engaged with the latter, said catch being moved bythe lever during the unlatching movement of the latter and clearing the keeper head after the trigger is in holding relation to the bolt.

6. Latch mechanism for a swingable member and cooperable with a fixed keeper adjacent the free end of said member, said latch mechanism comprising an arm pivoted on the free end of said member and carrying a bolt engageable in looking relation under the keeper head, the pivoting axis of said arm being above the keeper head when the bolt is engaged, a lever pivoted on said member, and cooperable abutment means on said lever and on said arm engageable in both directions of swing of the lever whereby the bolt is swingable by the lever toward and away from latching position.

7. Latch mechanism for a swingable member and cooperable with a fixed keeper adjacent the free end of said member, said latch mechanism comprising an arm pivoted on the free end of said member and carrying a bolt engageable in U locking relation under the keeper head, the pivoting axis of said arm being above the keeper head when the bolt is engaged, a lever pivoted on said member, cooperable abutment means on said lever and on said arm engageable in both directions of swing of the lever whereby the bolt is swingable by the lever toward and away from latching position, and a trigger for holding said bolt in withdrawn position when the bolt is unlatched.

8. Latch mechanism for a swingable member and cooperable with a fixed keeper adjacent the free end of said member, said latch mechanism comprising an arm pivoted on the free end of said member and carrying a bolt engageable in looking relation under the keeper head, the pivoting axis of said arm being above the keeper head when the bolt is engaged, a lever pivoted on said member, cooperable abutment means on said lever and on said arm engageable in both directions of swing of the lever whereby the bolt is swingable by the lever toward and away from latching position, a trigger for holding said bolt in withdrawn position when the bolt is unlatched, and a pivoted safety catch cooperable with said keeper to prevent swinging of said member to an extent to bring the bolt above the keeper head until said trigger is in holding relation to said bolt, said safety catch being moved to releasing relation to the keeper by said bolt as said bolt is moved to unlatching position.

9. Latch mechanism for a swingable member and cooperable with a fixed keeper adjacent the free end of said member, said latch mechanism comprising an arm pivoted on the free end of said member and carrying a bolt engageable in locking relation under the keeper head, a roller on the free end of said arm, a lever pivoted on said member, said lever carrying rollers alternately engageable with the arm roller to swing the bolt between latching and unlatching positions when the lever is oscillated.

FRANK A. HOLBY. 

